The Truth: What's Really Going On With Apple, Google, AT&T and the FCC

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: dewayne () warpspeed com (Dewayne Hendricks)
Date: August 22, 2009 1:27:59 PM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <xyzzy () warpspeed com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] The Truth: What's Really Going On With Apple,  
Google, AT&T and the FCC

The Truth: What’s Really Going On With Apple, Google, AT&T And The FCC
by Michael Arrington on August 21, 2009
<http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/21/the-simple-truth-whats-really-going-on-with-apple-google-att-and-the-fcc/ 
>

Apple has responded to the FCC’s request for information around its  
rejection of various Google and third party iPhone applications for  
the iPhone.

In short, Apple denies that they rejected the Google Voice  
application, but they go into great detail about how the Google Voice  
application hurts “the iPhone’s distinctive user experience.” All of  
those statements are either untrue, or misleading, or both.

The first part of Apple’s argument, that they never rejected the  
application, is “a total lie,” according to many sources with  
knowledge of the Google Voice application process.

The second part of Apple’s argument, that the Google Voice application  
hurts the iPhone’s distinctive user experience, is seriously  
misleading. I know this because I’ve become intimately familiar with  
the Google Voice service and applications over the last few months.  
See here, here,here and here, for example. I haven’t used the Google  
Voice app for the iPhone specifically, because it never launched. But  
I have been briefed by the Google team on two separate occasions on  
how the app would work over the last couple of months. Also, I’ve  
demo’d the Blackberry version of the app, and now use the Android  
version of the app.

Here’s the key language from Apple’s letter, with my comments:

Apple: “Contrary to published reports, Apple has not rejected the  
Google Voice application, and continues to study it.”

Reality: One third party Google Voice app developer disclosed to us in  
July that Apple SVP Phil Schiller

 told them that Google’s own app would be or already was rejected.  
Google alsoconfirmed this to us later. There is overwhelming evidence  
that Apple did in fact reject the application.

Apple: “The application has not been approved because, as submitted  
for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user  
experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone  
functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for  
telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail. Apple spent a lot of  
time and effort developing this distinct and innovative way to  
seamlessly deliver core functionality of the iPhone.”

Reality: This strongly suggests that the Google Voice app replaces  
much of the core Apple iPhone OS function. This certainly isn’t  
accurate, and we believe the statement is misleading. More details  
below, but in general the iPhone app is a very light touch and doesn’t  
interfere with any native iPhone apps at all.

Apple: “For example, on an iPhone, the “Phone” icon that is always  
shown at the bottom of the Home Screen launches Apple’s mobile  
telephone application, providing access to Favorites, Recents,  
Contacts, a Keypad, and Visual Voicemail. The Google Voice application  
replaces Apple’s Visual Voicemail by routing calls through a separate  
Google Voice telephone number that stores any voicemail, preventing  
voicemail from being stored on the iPhone, i.e., disabling Apple’s  
Visual Voicemail.”

Reality: Not true and misleading. The Google Voice application has its  
own voicemail function, which also transcribes messages. But it only  
works for incoming Google Voice calls, not calls to the iPhone. The  
Google Voice app in no way “replaces” Apple’s voicemail function.

Apple: “Similarly, SMS text messages are managed through the Google hub 
—replacing the iPhone’s text messaging feature.”

Reality: Not true and misleading. The Google Voice app doesn’t replace  
or in any way interfere wtih the iPhone’s text messaging feature. If  
someone sends a text message to your Google Voice number, the Google  
Voice app shows it. If it is sent directly to the iPhone phone number,  
nothing is different.

[snip]



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